“Do not come to Ayodhya on January 22…” requests Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust Secretary Champat Rai

Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya will be inaugurated on 22 January next year. Lakhs of pilgrims are expected to visit Ayodhya to see the idol of Lord Ram installed in the sanctum sanctorum. While giving information about the consecration ceremony of Ram temple today, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust Secretary Champat Rai said that the ceremony will be held on January 22 at 12 noon. He further added that the sanctum sanctorum is ready, as is the idol, but the construction of the entire temple may take two more years.

Many people from different states are planning to visit Ayodhya during this period. But Rai has asked the devotees not to come to Ayodhya during this period. According to reports from NDTV, Champat Rai urged people to celebrate ‘Anand Mahotsav’ in their nearest temple instead of coming to Ayodhya on January 22. In his message to the devotees, he said, “Do not come to Ayodhya on January 22. Gather at your nearest temple, be it small or big. Go to whatever temple is possible for you, even if it is your home.” He has made this request so that there is no overcrowding in the city during this period.

The Vedic rituals for the consecration ceremony will begin on January 16, a week before the main ceremony. The main ritual in the consecration ceremony will be performed by Lakshmi Kant Dixit. For the convenience of the devotees coming in large numbers from India and abroad for the Pran Pratishtha programme, a ‘Tent City’ is being constructed, in which there will be accommodation for 80 thousand devotees where arrangements for food will also be made.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the Ram Mandir Pran Pratistha ceremony on January 22.

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